Abstract:
This study is a survey research to study the factors affecting values,
attitudes, and participation in non-smoking campaigns among adolescents. The
sample group consisted of 400 adolescents aged between 18 and 25 years, who
resided in Bangkok metropolitan area. Data were collected by questionnaires. The
data obtained were statistically analyzed by SPSS program. T-test, Chi-Square test
and One-Way ANOVA were the tools used.
The study found that smoking among adolescents is 14.3 percent, with a
13 times higher rate in males than females. The age of starting smoking was in the
14-23 range. In addition, over 50% of adolescents who have people close to them
such as family and friends who smoke also smoke. This means that the close
friend or relative’s smoking is an essential factor in their taking up smoking.
While media campaigns and legal controls on cigarette smoking influence
attitudes and values toward non-smoking among this target group at the medium
level, the most influential media is television. Factors of age, friends and relatives
and their smoking behavior, perception, attitudes and values, all affect
participation in the campaign at the medium level. The most participated-in
activities are exhibitions on tobacco and health, and walking rallies, respectively.
The suggestion from this research is that a national agenda and policy
regarding the tobacco control campaign is needed, and regulations on cigarette as
an addictive drug have to be considered. Tobacco should be controlled and
subjugated the same as alcohol, retail outlets, should be controlled smoking-free
places in creased and also chemical substances in cigarette should be declared to
the public.